Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships


Ship:      SUEVIC
Arrived:23 July 1968
Departed:19 August 1968
Arrived 2:7 August 1969
Departed 2:13 September 1969
Career:SUEVIC was a large refrigerated cargoship and was laid up in the River Blackwater at least twice.
In 1969 she arrived in the River from Southampton. Nolan Loveridge was a Junior Engineer on the SUEVIC during her stay and says a nucleus of mates and engineers remained on board during the visit. The motor lifeboat was given a makeshift canopy, renamed "African Queen" and made 4 trips a day into the jetty (the causeway) at West Mersea. Sundays there was an extra trip to take people to lunch at the pub in Bradwell-on-Sea. From the Blackwater, the SUEVIC sailed for Rotterdam to be dry-docked and then loaded in London for New Zealand. See also www.shipsnostalgia.com.

The Shaw Savill SUEVIC has sailed for Liverpool to take over duties of the fire damaged GOTHIC. [Local newspaper cutting 29 Aug 1968 BJ79_080]

SUEVIC was broken up Kaohsiung 6 Jun 1974

Read more about the SUEVIC in the Blackwater

Tonnage:13,587 gross
Built:1950
Type:Refrigerated ship
Owner:Shaw Savill & Albion
LR/IMO Number:5343108
Official No:183613
ID5343108

SUEVIC in the River Blackwater August/September 1969. Union Castle boats are thought to be RICHMOND CASTLE and ROCHESTER CASTLE. Date: c September 1969.

Above:  SUEVIC in the River Blackwater August/September 1969. Union Castle boats are thought to be RICHMOND CASTLE and ROCHESTER CASTLE. Date: c September 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge

Above:  "African Queen" slung up in falls - SUEVIC in the River Blackwater. Date: cAugust 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge

Above:  "African Queen" at the Causeway, West Mersea - the motor lifeboat from S.S. SUEVIC. Date: August 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge

Lifeboat from SUEVIC and the SCEPTRE at the Causeway, West Mersea Date: cAugust 1969.

Above:  Lifeboat from SUEVIC and the SCEPTRE at the Causeway, West Mersea Date: cAugust 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge

SUEVIC being swivelled or unswivelled whilst laid up in the River Blackwater. Mick Lungley on the left side of the photo.

Probably from Essex County Standard

SUEVIC was in the River Blackwater 23 July 1968 to 19 August 1968 and 7 August 1969 to 13 September 1969

Above:  SUEVIC being swivelled or unswivelled whilst laid up in the River Blackwater. Mick Lungley on the left side of the photo. Probably from Essex County Standard SUEVIC was in the River Blackwater 23 July 1968 to 19 August 1968 and 7 August 1969 to 13 September 1969
Source: Mersea Museum / Ian Clarke


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